Half to john nottingham



L ,t e nv h s e e h s. 3 D. R A HuA D 0 T S S L n d .0 M o m SULKY. Patented Au la. v .I d 7/04 WM. 00 E.T.. oo.. l5 2 /K @y f M w w mwwo/ r/ m @L mm W l.. 5 KM? WITNESSES:

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3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

F. S. STODDARD.

, SULKY.

Patented Aug. 28, 1894.

(No Model.)

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(No Model.) 4 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

' F. Sj. STODDARD.

SULKY.

Patented Aug. 28, 1894.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK S. STODDARD, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO JOHN NOTTINGHAM, OF SAME PLACE.

SULKY.`

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 525,033, dated August 28,1894.

Application filed March 2 I 1 8 94 To all whom it `may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK S. STODDARD, of Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga, in the State of New York, have invented new 5 and useful Improvements in Sulkies, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to bicycle sulkies; and

1o my object is primarily to remedy the difflculties heretofore existing in sulkies of this blass, owing to the fact that they have not been adapted to persons of different weights, nor provided with means for adjusting them to a f dierent weights of drivers, so that heretofore when a snlky has been made for a light rider, and a heavier person occupies it, the extra spring downward of the arch connecting the separate wheel axles, will throw said zo axles out of a horizontal, and the wheels out of a vertical, thereby causing said axles to bind and cut, even with ball bearings, because said axles are not at a right angle to the line y of draft, and also causing the sulky4 to draw z 5 much harder and run heavier, all producing and causing damage to the sulky, and reducing the speed of the horse.

The object of my invention is to produce a sulky of this class, which is provided with 3o simple, efficient means for remedying the aforesaid difficulties, objections and faults of construction and operation; in which the arch which is connected to and carried by the wheelforks, is provided with a truss-rod adj ustably 3 5 connected to the inner branches of said forks,

and having intermediate connections to` said arch, inwhich said truss-rod is also, when desired, made in sections, said sections being provided with means whereby they can be 4o adjusted with reference to each other; or in which both the center and the ends of said truss-rod are provided with means of adjustment, whereby, whether one or both are used, said truss-rod can be adjusted to spring said arch against the strain of the load to be carried, so that when loaded the axles will always stand horizontal and the Wheels vertical; in which the arch is split longitudinally and, spread or widened out, not only to produce a 5o double arch with a single truss-rod,but to also permit the seat to be mounted upon and se- Serisl No. 505,053. (No model.)

vand thereby entirely overcome the horse-motion.

' My invention consists in the several novel features o'f construction and operation hereinafter described and which are specifically set forthin the claims hereunto annexed. t is vconstructed as follows, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1, is a top plan of my sulky. Fig. 2, is a rear elevation thereof. Fig. 3, is aside elevation thereof. Fig. 4, is an elevation of the sectional truss-rod, detached. Fig. 5, is an enlarged sectional elevation of a nut, and rod connection between said sections for adjustment. Fig. A6, is a like view of an internally` threaded sleeve connection between them. Fig. 7, is an elevation of a ratchet connection between said sections. Fig. 8, is a sectional detail of `a connection between the end of said truss-rod and the wheel-fork for adjustment. Fig. 9, is a side elevation of a connection between the truss rod and the arch, and an arch-section spreader. Fig. l0, is a front (or rear) elevation thereof. Fig.,1l, is a detail of the spreader andsecuring bolt. Fig. 12, is a front elevation of the seat, and the `front truss cross bar connected to the thills, which are shown in section. Fig. 13, is an enlarged vertical section of the wheel-fork and the single, solid, end of the arch connected thereto. Fig. 14, a vertical sectional detail of a connection of the arch to the fork, when the division of the arch extends for its entire length and the ends of both arch sec- 95 tions are connected to the fork. Fig. 15, isa sectional detail of an adjustable axle-mounting upon a fork arm, and a detail of an adjustable axle-bearing, by which the height of the sulky can be varied for horses of dieiu zoo ent sizes. j

The sulk-y consists broadly of the arch -a-, forks -b-, wheels-Q thills d, seat -e-, and the other parts hereinafter -especially mentioned. The arch -ctis shown as constructed with solid ends -2- between which it is split to produce the archbars 3 which are spread apart, by means of a spreader -4-, shown as tubular `and through which the bolt -5- is inserted to secure it in position, said bolt also serving to connect the arms -6- of the link -7- to said arch. Each link is provided withV an eye -8-- to receive the truss-rod -9- shown as consisting of sections, and having its adja-V cent ends connected adjustably, as in Figs. 4 and 5, by the right and left hand threaded rods -10 screwed into the truss sections, and an interiorly right and left hand threaded nut --llupon-said rods; or as in Fig. 6, by threading the ends of said sections, rightaud left, and mounting a sleeve -12- thereon, threaded interiorly in like manner; or yas in Fig. 7, bya ratchet -13- on one section, and a hookedlocking bar -ltpivoted upon the other one; these several meaus'for adjusting sai'd sections with reference to each other being given as some of the nu-merous other devices adapted to be used for such adjustment "by varying the space between these ends of struction a 'single truss-rod, through the branching link connections, stays bothlarclr bars Where spread apart, as also the-solid por tions of thel arch, and all together create a truss-support for the load upon the seat --ewhich is mounted directly upon and/secured The forks-1rare shown in Fig. `13, as

,consisting of the tubular -arms -19- connected by an arch, 'a curved tube -20- within said arch, and extending down into said arms, to reinforce a curved tube -21- inclosin g said arch and further-stiening-and reinforcing, and a socket 22'- integral with,for secured to said tube -21- andshouldered interiorly to support the'endof thearch4 when inserted and secured therein and in Fig. let, the arch bars are shownfasextending `separately to the fork, and mou-nte'dupou the stems -24- integral Vwith or secured to the/ block B5-'- secured to orl integral with the tube -22-; and as the body and arms of the fork lare tubular, great strength is obtained -for comparatively light weight. In vthe lower Vends olf said arms-a plug -26- is (in Fig. 13)

therein, and the wheels -care journaled bearing.

In Fig. l5, a uut -28- is secured in the arm, and -29- is a threaded bar inserted into it, and provided with an eye -30, in which eyes the axle is mounted, and by removing the wheel, said bars can be adjusted vertically to vary the height of the fork from the ground, and consequently vary the height ofthe sulky for horses of different size.

The thills are of anyordinary construction and are secured to the arch by clips -31-, of any desired construction.

The seat -eis of the usual construction and is mounted upon the arch, its rear being stayed by a brace or braces -32- between it and the rear extension of the thills. The

'front cross-bars --33 3ibetween the thills, are curved rearwardly and arched upwardly so that they support the front of the speed.

The adjustmentof the truss `screw between the sections of the truss-rod, by screwing it up and thereby drawing the ends of the sections toward each other, operates to throw the wheels out, by the drawing of the sectionsthrough the links marked x, and the consequent leverage ofthe lower ends of said sections upon the forks, thereby causing vthe wheels to becomeinclined inwardly toward each other, from a vertical, and then when theload is applied to the seat, the downward spring of the arch will restore vsaid wheels to a vertical. This is the adjustment fora heavy person. When the ends of the sections are forced apart, the wheels are thrown in, so that they incline outwardly from `each other, and then thev application of the load brings them up to a vertical. This mechanism can be used yalone,or in conj unction Withthe take-up mechanism, orthe takeup mechanism can be used alone; said take- -up operating as follows: The nut 17- is first loosened,'then by screwing up the nut `18- the wheel is drawn in, by the reduction in the length of the truss-rod, `and then vscrewiug'the nut -4-17- down again to the bracket the wheel is secured in that position. Each wheel is separately adj usted. By loosening or unscrewing the nut -18 and screwing the nut -17- down the `wheels 4are thrown out; through and by reason of the increase of the length of the truss-rodl above said bracket, and-the fact that the links maintain it at the same distance from the arch at all times and under all circumstances. It will be seen that in either case the 'adjustment is effected by varying the length of the truss-rod and consequently varying the rigidity of the truss, as also that of the-arch, all according to the variation of the weight of the load to be carried; and that when the arch is solid for its entire length, as it can be, then the adjustment of the truss-rod to vary its length, will perform the same function and s accomplish the same results.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a bicycle-sulky, an arching truss,

wheel forks secured thereto, and means to vary the length of the truss-rod, in combination.

2. In a bicycle sulky, an arching truss, wheel forks secured thereto, connections between the truss-rod and truss-arch intermediate to its length, and means to vary the length of the truss-rod in combination.

3. In a bicycle-sulky, an arching truss, comprising a body split between its solid ends, creating a double arch, wheel-forks securedto its ends, connections between the truss-rod and the arches intermediate to its length, and means to vary Athe length of the trnss-rod, in combination.-

4. In a bicyclesulky, an arching truss comprising a double arch and a truss-rod connected tothe wheel forks, and intermediately to said arches, wheel forks secured to the ends of said arches, and means to vary the length of the truss-rod.

5. In a bicycle-sulky, an arching truss split between its solid ends, creating a double arch, wheel forks secured to said ends, connections between the truss-rod and arches, means to vary the length of the truss-rod, a seat mounted upon said truss-arch, and thills connected to said arch. t

6. In a bicycle-sulky, a truss-arch, wheelforks secured thereto, and a truss-rod connected to said arch and to said wheel forks and means to vary its length, in combination.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 22d day of March, 1894.

FREDERICK S. STODDARD.

In presence of- HOWARD P. DENIsoN, M. M. BoRsT. 

